Education

Who makes the policy for schools in England?

Westminister

What does the Secretary of State for Education do?

• determines national policy and issues regulation on free schools, tuition fees etc

• controls councils + can intervene if they’re failing

• negotiates with Treasury for extra funding

• determines pay and conditions of employment for teachers

• determines student fees/ loans

What are the different structures for education?

• compulsory: 5-18

• Primary: 4/5 until 11/12

• Secondary: 11/12 to 16/18

  • Selective – children who pass 11+ exams go to grammar schools (163 remain, in areas like Kent, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire)

  • Non-selective – everyone goes to comprehensive in 28 areas of Britain

• Further Education 16+, may be vocational or academic, full or part time

• Higher education 18+: degree and post-degree – mostly universities but also colleges

• Student Fees: now £9,250

Describe the National Curriculum.

• Outlines what subjects must be taught to different age groups in state schools

• Accompanied by programmes of study and attainment targets

• Comprises compulsory subjects (English, maths etc) and others that can be dropped at key stage 4 (14-16) (DT, geography, music etc.)

• Parents may withdraw their children from religious education / sex education

• Work-related studies/careers education must be taken at key stage 4

• Exams at 7 and 11 (SATs). Results used with GCSEs to assess schools in league tables

What are the different types of state schools?

• community school: primary and secondary schools run directly by local education authorities (LEAs)

• Faith schools: schools set up by faith groups, i.e. Church of England. Prioritise admission of pupils on basis of faith but must admit pupils of any or no faith.

• Special schools: dedicated to children of all ages with special educational needs

• Free schools: fully self-governing, typically established by parents/teachers/communities in locations without sufficient high quality schools. These schools are allowed to choose own curriculum + do not need to employ qualified teachers, no fees charged

• Academies: fully independent state schools, publicly-funded, can deviate from National Curriculum, run by head teacher and board of governors, can hire unqualified teaching staff and select 10% of pupils on ability

What are the two types of Faith schools?

• Voluntary controlled – Mostly CoE. RE syllabus set by LA but some governors appointed by church and a third of teaching posts can be reserved for designated faith

• Voluntary aided- Mostly Roman Catholic – church has more influence, maintaining buildings, deciding RE syllabus, appointing most governors and most teaching posts can be reserved for those of designated faith

What does Ofsted stand for and what is their role?

• Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills

• inspects and registers schools, colleges and council children’s services

• inspections usually carried out every 3 years, lasting 2 days with 0-2 days’ notice

How do Ofsted carry out their inspections?

• Parents asked to give their views

• Lessons observed and graded, together with school policies etc.

• Report published, sent to parents and children and available on Ofsted website

• Ratings outstanding, good, requires improvement, inadequate

• Unsatisfactory schools given notice to improve and/or put into special measures

  • Special measures means close monitoring and re-inspected in 2/3 yrs. Could get added support from community or closed down by SoS (under Education Act 2011). Gov wants to replace closed schools with academies.

What is the role of local education authorities (the council)?

Must have a department of children’s services, director of children’s services, cabinet member for children’s services, independent appeals panel for parents on exclusion, admission.

Dedicated Schools grant – from gov – main source of funding. Diff depending on LA

Pupil Premium – Introduced as specific grant April 2011 for deprived pupils eligible for free school meals or in local authority care, etc.

• provides central services (e.g. child psychology, education welfare etc.)

• determines admissions policy/ holidays for community/voluntary schools

• Provides free school transport or meals

• Determines which children have special needs

• Ensures parents provide efficient full-time education for home schooling

Describe the types and roles of school governors?

• parent governors – elected by the parents from the parents for four years

• local authority governors – appointed for four years by the authority

• teacher and staff governors – elected for four years by the staff

• community governors (foundation if a church school)

ROLES

• financial running

• appoint staff

• oversee curriculum and agree policies

• set targets

• discipline

Describing Head teachers’ role

• Advise govs

• Oversee delivery of curriculum

• Discipline (dress code for example)

• Ensure safety, health, SAT etc. regulations complied with

• Oversee financial running – within budget agreed by governors

Describe the role of parents

• Must ensure children have an “efficient full-time education” whether or not at school

• Can participate in running of school by becoming governor

• Have right to exercise preference of school (NOT choose)

• LA can issue voluntary parenting order

• LA or head teacher can issue £100 penalty notice for truancy

• LA may prosecute – could lead to school attendance order, education supervision order, parenting order, fine up to 2.5k, imprisonment up to three months

Lit potential education contacts.

• Chair of governors, parent/teacher governors

• LA cabinet member for children’s services

• Reps of teaching unions – National Education Union

• NAS/UWT – The Teachers’ Union

• UCU – University and College Union (Further/higher education)